Rupture or hernia truss



J9 1927' E. GIFFHORN RUPTURE OR HERNIA TRus's Filed Nov. 20, 1925 I z Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS,

' 1,632,065 Y E. GIFFHORN RU PTURE OR HERNIA TRUSS June 14, 1927- Filed Nov. 20, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z7 g ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES): PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST GIF'FH'ORN, or NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

RUPTURE 0R HERNIA TRUSS.

Application filed November 20, 1925. Serial No. 70,252.

- This invention relates, generally, to im provements in trusses; and, the present in-- vention has reference, more particularly, to a novel construction of rupture or hernia support which shall give great comfort to the wearer, which is readily applicable to the body, and is provided with adjusting means, whereby the truss may be made to assume variously desired positions with relation to the contour of the human body, and thus to provide the greatest comfort possible.

The present invention, therefore, has for its principal object to provide a novel and simply constructed rupture or hernia-truss,

with the main body-portion of which is associated and connected therewith by means of a hinge an arc-shaped metal reenforced fastening strap, provided at or near the hinge-connection with a means of adjustment, whereby the strap may be brought closer to or farther away from the body of the wearer, when fastened to'the pad-portion of the truss-body, thus leaving an a1r space betwen the body of the wearer and the fastening strap.

Such space, and consequent removal of pressure from againstthe body and the leg 7 at that point, prevents compression of the blood vessels, thus permitting of a free circulation of the blood, furthermore permitting free movement of the leg, at the joint and not interfering with the action of the muscles, so that the person will not go lame and that there will beno pain. i The invention has for its further object toprovide in connection with" the main body of a rupture or hernia-truss, a curved or arc-shaped metal-reenforced strap, usually a steel band is used, so as to provide a substantially rigid or stiff strap; and, furthermore, to provide in connection with a simple hinge between the truss-body and the strap,

a readily manipulatable adjusting screw placed in such a position and: at the proper point, that the exact pressure is placed upon the body of the wearer where it is most needed so that the greatest comfort to the wearer of the truss will be the result.

Other objects of the present invention not at this time more particularly enumerated will be fully understood from the following detailed description of thepresent invention.

WVith the various objects of the present invention 111 view, the said invention COIISIStS, primarily, in the novel rupture or herniatruss hereinafter set forth; and, the said invention consists, furthermore, in the general arrangei'nents and combinations of the various devices and parts, as well as in the details of the construction of the said parts,

all of which will be more fully described in the following specification, and then finally embodied in the clauses of the claims, which are appended to and which'form an essen tial part of the said specification.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a perspective view of the rup-v ture or hernia-truss, showing the manner of applying the truss to the body of the wearer; and Figures 2 and 3 are edge views of the truss, Figure 2 illustrating one of its adjusted positions about the body, and Fig ure 3 showing the truss-body and its attaching strap, in their disconnected relation, for removal of the truss from the human body.

Figure t is a perspective. view of. frag-- mentary portions of the truss-body and of the strap, showing more particularly the hinge-connection between said members, the

Similar characters of reference are. employed 1n the said above described views, to

indicate corresponding parts. 7

1 Referring now to the said figures of the drawings, the reference-character 1 indicates .a rupture or hernia-truss embodying theprinciples of the present invention, the same comprising a main body-portion 2 provided with the inside lumbar cushion 3, and at its end-portion 4, with the hernia-pad 5 of any usual construction. The referencecharacter 6 indicates the usual curved and flat metal member of the'said body-portion 2, made of suitable spring-metal, and the same being suitably encased in cover-sections 7 and 8, usually of leather, rubber, or of any other suitable material. The said metal member 6 also has an end-portion 9 of suitable length, projecting from the endease and comfort to the patient.

portion of the casing or envelope formed by the cover-sections 7 and 8, the said end portion 9 being provided with a hinge-plate 11 formed with suitable pintle-receiving eyes or loops 12.

The reference-character 13 indicates the fastening member of the truss, the same consisting, essentially, of a curved and flat metal member 1a, made of suitable spring-metal, suitably encased in cover-sections 15 and 16, made of leather, rubber, or other suitable material. Connected with and extending from the end-portion 1'? of one of said eover'sections is a strap-member 18, usually provided with holes or perforations 19 for attachment of said strap-member over a stud or pin, as 20, with which the hernia-pad 5 may be provided.

Extending from the end-portion 21 of the casing or envelope formed by the cover-- sections 15 and 16 is a portion 22 of said metal member 14 which is formed with an eye or loop 23, adapted to be fitted between the eyes or loops 12, as shown in Figure 6 of the drawings, the several eyes or loops being pivotally connected by means of a pintle 24-, so as to provide a suitable hinge-connection, as will be evident from an inspection of Figures 1, 5'and 6 of the drawings. Upon its inner side the strap-member, thus produced, may also be suitably padded, as at 25, if desired. The end-portion 22 of said metal. member 14: is made with a screwthreaded hole 26 in which is arranged an adjusting set-screw 27 having its end 28 bearing upon the projecting portion 9 of the metal member 6, and being provided with a head 29, or other suitable means for manipulation and desired adjustment of the said set-screw 27.

In use the main body-portion 2 of the truss is placed about the waist of the user, as indicated in Figure 1 of the drawings, with the hernia-pad 5 placed directly over the rupture of the wearers body, the springlike action of the metal band 6 holding the said body-portion 2 in proper position. The hinged member 13 of the truss is then brought over the hip-portion of the wearers body, as shown in Figure 2, and the strap portion 18 is fastened byvmeans' of its perforations 19 to the stud or pin of the hernia-pad 5. By proper adjustment of the set-screw 27, the curved member 13 may be brought closely to or farther away from the contour of the hip-portion of the body, as to provide an open space, as 30, as indicated in said Figure 2 of the drawings. In this manner, an air-space which prevents heating and sweating, and furthermore prevents irritation is provided, so as to give At the same time, all pressure is removed from the blood-vessels at that point, so that the circulation of the blood is not interfered with, and, furthermore, there being no pressure exerted upon the muscles at the point, the

leg-motion is not obstructed, so that the patient canwalk without any usual limp, and without pain.

Of course, I am aware, that my present invention is capable of some changes in the general arrangements and combinationsof the various devices and parts, as well as in the details of the construction of the said parts, as set forth in the foregoing specification, and as defined in the clauses of the claims which are appended to the said specification. Hence, I do not limit my present invention to the exact arrangements and combinations of the various devices and parts as described in the said specification, nor do I confine myself to the exact details of the construction of the said parts, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

I claim:

1. In a truss a bowed main body-portion, a fastening-portion, the adjoining ends of said body-portion and fastening-portion being hinged together in overlapping relation to provide the former with an end member underlying the latter, and an adjustable setscrew threaded through said fastening portion to bear against said end member of said body-portion whereby both spacing of said fastening portion away from the wearers body and regulation of the tension exerted thereby on the bodyportion is attained.

2. A truss comprising a bowed main bodyportion having a. hernia-pad adjacentto its free end, a fastening-portion, the adjoining ends of said body-portion and fastening-portion overlapping to provide the former with an end member underlying the latter, means to pivotally interconnect said body and fastoning portions in such relation, cooperative means to separably fasten the free meeting ends of said body and fastening portions togetheiyand an adjustable set-screw threaded through said fastening portion to bear against said end member of said body-portion whereby both spacing of said fastening portion away from the wearers body and regulation of the tension thereof is attained.

3. In a truss as defined in claim 2, enveloping covering means for said body and fastening portions, and a lumbar-pad at tached to the inner side of said body-portion and its covering means.

In testimony, that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 19 day of November, 1925.

ERNEST GIFFHORN. 

